NFL Game Telecasts 29 Of 30 Most-Watched TV Shows This Fall

An NFL game was the most-watched show on TV last week (Dec. 17-23) for the 16th time in 16 weeks of the NFL season with the FOX national telecast (mostly New York Giants-Baltimore Ravens) topping all sports and entertainment competition with 24.2 million viewers.

Locally, an NFL game was the highest-rated show in all 30 NFL markets last week, marking the second consecutive week and the record fifth time this season that NFL games topped local ratings in all NFL markets. Previously there were four “30 for 30” weeks in the full 2010 and 2011 seasons. NFL games have topped local ratings 93 percent of the time this season (up from 90 percent at this point in ’11).

For the season, NFL games rank as 29 of the 30 most-watched TV shows since Labor Day. Following are the most-watched programs this fall:

Program

Viewers

1. FOX Thanksgiving Game (Redskins-Cowboys), 11/22

28.7 million

2. NBC Sunday Night Football (Steelers-Broncos), 9/9

27.6 million

3. CBS Thanksgiving Game (Texans-Lions), 11/22

27.3 million

4. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Cowboys), 10/28

26.9 million

5. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Cowboys), 12/16

26.9 million

6. FOX Sunday National (mostly 49ers-Packers), 9/9

26.4 million

7. FOX Sunday National (mostly 49ers-Saints), 11/25

24.9 million

8. CBS Sunday National (mostly Broncos-Patriots), 10/7

24.5 million

9. FOX Sunday National (mostly Saints-Giants), 12/9

24.5 million

10. FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Eagles), 11/11

24.3 million

11. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Ravens),12/23

24.2 million

12. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Giants), 11/4

24.2 million

13. CBS Sunday National (mostly Texans-Broncos), 9/23

24.0 million

14. NBC Wed. Night Kickoff Game (Cowboys-Giants), 9/5

23.9 million

15. CBS Sunday National (Indy-NE & SD-Den), 11/18

23.6 million

16. NBC Sunday Night Football (49ers-Patriots), 12/16

23.2 million

17. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Ravens), 12/2

23.0 million

18. CBS Sunday National (mostly Jets-Patriots), 10/21

23.0 million

19. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-49ers), 10/14

22.8 million

20. NBC Sunday Night Football (Giants-Eagles), 9/30

22.8 million

21. NBC Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, 11/22

22.4 million

22. FOX Sunday National (mostly Saints-Packers), 9/30

22.3 million

23. NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Falcons), 11/4

21.8 million

24. FOX Sunday Single (mostly NYG-ATL & GB-Chi), 12/16

21.4 million

25. NBC Sunday Night Football (Lions-Packers), 12/9

21.4 million

26. NBC Sunday Night Football (Lions-49ers), 9/16

21.3 million

27. NBC Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Ravens), 9/23

21.3 million

28. FOX Sunday Single (mostly Minn-GB & TB-Den), 12/2

20.9 million

29. NBC Sunday Night Football (Texans-Bears), 11/11

20.9 million

30. NBC Sunday Night Football (Packers-Giants), 11/25

20.9 million

Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company

Following is the list of all 30 NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Dec. 17-23: